Older than the Himalaya mountains, the mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. The site’s high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern. Moderating the tropical climate of the region, the site presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system on the planet. It also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity. The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

- UNESCO

Hon’ble Prime Minister sir,

Greetings from NatConnect Foundation.

We sincerely appreciate your efforts to save the environment at Global level and focus on targets for Zero Emission.

Prime Minister Sir, despite the global importance accorded to the Western Ghats, we in India seem to be neglecting the importance of saving and conserving biodiversity.

The efforts to save the Ghats began 12 years ago with the Madhav Gadgil recommendation to declare 75% of the 1,29, 037 sq mtr of the total area. Yet there seems to be no understanding among the States through which the ghats run.

Without wasting your time and getting into the details, we request you to:

Urgently convene a special meeting of the Chief Ministers and Environment Ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to thrash out the differences.
Use the Double Engine power – since four States are BJP run – to convince them to agree to the protection of the Ghats.
Most importantly, tell everyone to agree to the original recommendation of the Madhav Gadgil committee – to declare 75% as ESA.
Sir, we understand that infrastructure today requires stones and stone chips. 

As you will appreciate, with the research into construction and advent of several alternatives the usage of stones from quarries can be cut down.

The government under the aegis of the CSIR, can encourage the researchers and startups to come out with viable alternatives to stones from hill quarries.

We are sure, we can move towards near zero quarries much as zero emission and ban on single use plastic.

Looking forward to your positive ACTION, as always, sir.

Your sincerely

B N Kumar

Director – NatConnect Foundation